Synonyms for pyromania


Grammar : Noun
Spell : pahy-ruh-mey-nee-uh, -meyn-yuh
Phonetic Transcription : ˌpaɪ rəˈmeɪ ni ə, -ˈmeɪn yə


Définition of pyromania

Origin :
  • 1840, from pyro- "fire" + mania "madness, frenzy." Used in German in the 1830s.
  • The propensity which leads an insane person to accomplish his purpose by burning, has been considered to merit particular notice, and to constitute a variety of monomania. Dr. Marc, of France, has published a memoir on the subject; he gives the name of pyromania to it, and considers that, like other insane propensities, it may be the result of instinct, or it may be the result of delusion--reasoning upon erroneous principles. [Alexander Morrison, M.D., "The Physiognomy of Mental Diseases," London, 1840]
  • An older word for it was incendiarism.
  • As in arson : noun intentional burning
Example sentences :
  • Verbeena savagely and swiftly lighted nine cigarettes and faced him peagreen with pyromania.
  • Extract from : « The Shriek » by Charles Somerville

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019